Gauge for tile cutters



Dec. 13, 1949 E. L, WILUAMS 2,490,989

GAUGE FOR TILE CUTTERS Filed July 29, 194;??

Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT GFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to a gauge for tile cutters.

In the process of preparing tile for flooring or other purposes it isnecessary to cut large sections of tile into pieces the proper size tofit a border, or other restricted space. This is accomplished by the useof a cutter in which a movable blade which is arranged to move parallelto a fixed blade cuts the tile against the fixed blade, which serves asan anvil. The motion of the movable blade with respect to the fixedblade is of the guillotine type because the material to be cut isextremely stii and quite brittle, and a scissors action would not cut itevenly.

In order to permit measuring of the material to be cut, such cuttershave customarily been provided with a cutting gauge which consists of apair of slotted brackets rigidly secured to the cutter adjacent theiixed blade, with a gauge stop adjustably secured to the brackets bymeans of wing nuts. This type of gauge has never been very satisfactorybecause the cutter blades are wedge shaped, and in cutting the tile theypush it into the gauge stop with sufficient force that the stop mayrequire resetting after every cut. Likewise, the operator mustordinarily set the gauge stop initially by measuring from the bladeswith a ruler, or by using a piece of tile of known width for a guide.

In the improved gauge of this invention, a base 'i member is providedwith pairs of spaced apertures which are adapted to receive a pair ofspaced pins on the gauge stop. The iirst pair of apertures is apredetermined distance, for example one inch, from the blades. Otherpairs of spaced apertures are arranged successively farther from theblades in spacings of a fraction of a linear unit, as, for

example, one-quarter inch. Thus the gauge stop may be quickly set at anypredetermined distance from the blades, and once placed it will remainfixed until the operator desires to change the spacing. This arrangementsaves a tremendous amount of time in the cutting of tile and assuresaccuracy and uniformity in the cut pieces.

The base member is bolted to the cutter at the places provided for thereception of the slotted brackets. A compression spring is providedunder each bolt to yieldably hold the base member against the cutter.Thus the powerful wedging force of the blades against the tile, tendingto split the tile against the rigid gauge stop, is absorbed by thecompression spring which permits limited movement of the entire gauge.

In order to accommodate the gauge to irregularities in various cutters,a plurality of set screws is positioned to permit adjustment of thegauge with respect to the blades, so as to assure parallelism of thegauge stop and blades.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred ernbodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an asphalt tile flooring cutter equippedwith the improved gauge; Fig. 2 is a section taken as indicated at 2-2of Fig. 1 with an alternative location of the gauge stops indicated bybroken lines; Fig. 3 is a section taken as indicated at 3 3 cf Fig. 2;and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the apertures and a gauge stoppin.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, an asphalt tile iiooringcutter, indicated generally at 5, is provided with a cutting elementconsisting of a fixed blade 6 and a movable blade 1 which is mounted formovement parallel to the xed blade 6 by means of parallel links 8 and 9.

The improved cutter gauge consists of a base member I0 having at itsforward edge portion fastening elements composed of a pair of mountinglugs ll, each apertured to receive a bolt I2. The bolts I2 extendthrough the mounting lugs I I and through apertures in the lower portionof the cutter 5, and are secured in place by means of nuts I3.Compression springs I4 are mounted between the heads of the bolts I 2and the mounting lugs I I so as to resiliently urge the base member I Iltoward the cutting element. Thus the fastening elements for the basemember I0 permit limited horizontal movement 'of the base member in adirection perpendicular to the plane of the cutting elements, and thebase member I0 is yieldingly held in place by the springs I4.

The base member is provided with a plurality of integral evenly spacedpairs of shoulders, consisting, in the embodiment shown, of a pluralityof pairs of spaced apertures I5, I5; I6, I6; I1, I1; I8, I8; etc. Agauge stop I9 is provided with spaced taper pins 20 and 2l. Each pair ofspaced apertures, as I5, I5, is arranged to receive the pins 20 and 2l,the pins 20 and 2| fitting the apertures snugly so as to retain thegauge stop I9 rigidly in any selected position. The first pair of spacedapertures, I5, I5, is placed a selected distance from the forward edgeof the base member I0, as for example, one inch. The second pair ofspaced apertures IS, I6, is offset sideways from the first pair and is afractional linear unit farther from the forward edge of the base memberI0` than is the rst pair. Successive pairs, as I1, I1; I8, I8, are in anarrangement similar to said first and second pairs so as to permit ad-Aangle at any distance from a corner.

justment of the gauge stop in fractional linear greater than one-eighthinch.

It is desirable to place the forward edge of the base member lll apredetermined distance from the cutting element, and this forward Ledge:must necessarily be precisely parallel t .the `Cutting element. Inorder to provide for this adjustment, the fastening means includesaplurality of set screws 23 and 24 extending through apertures ln themounting lugs l l, said set screws V`being independentliT movable. 4Theset screws 23 and 24 areadapted to :be locked in place in the mountinglugs .l I so :that once rthe base member ill] has been adjusted to anyparticular cutter, it may be -removed and replaced Lthereon withoutreadjustment ,of the setscreWs.

In order to permit tile to be cut at a 45 ang-le, as is frequentlynecessary, apertures 25 and 26 are provided to receive the pins `2t) and2l =to bold the gauge stop 'IS -at a 45 4angle lwith lrespect to theblades, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2. Aperturas '27, '28 and29, on a line parallel Kto that .between the apertures 425 and `26,permit an auxiliary stop 3B to be fixed vwith `itsflong side in abuttingrelationship to the gauge stop 'i191 in order to furnish a right angleabutment at any desired distance nfrom the blades. :Thus a -rectangularpiece of tile may be cu't off on a 45 The 'au-Xiliary stop 30 consistsof va slotted plate vwhich may be secured tothe base member Vby'means'ofa bolt 3l and wing nut 32.

When not in use, 'the auxiliary stop 30 may be secured Yout of the way by'bolting it into any of the apertures in the base member; and when thegauge is not in use it may be bolted down with one end over the `gaugestop i9, as show-n in Fig. 2, to act as a locking pla-te to prevent lossof the gauge stop.

The foregoing detailed description has been given forclea-rness ofunderstanding only, and no vunnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

`I claim:

1. A gauge for a tile cutter, comprising: a base member; fasteningelements for detachably securing said `base member in predeterminedrelation to the blades of a tile cutter', a plurality of spaced pairs ofshoulders integral with said base member; and a movable gauge stophavingr integral portions adapted to frictionally engage a selected pairof said shoulders to xedly kretain said stop in a predetermined positionwith reference to said blades.

2. A gauge for a tile cutter, comprising: abase member; fasteningelements for detachably securing said base member in predeterminedrelatiton to the blades of a tile cutter; a Vgauge stop provided with apair `of rigid spaced pins; and a plurality of pairs of spaced aperturesin said base member adapted to receive and frictionally grip said spacedpins, said pairs of apertures being so arranged as to permit said gaugestop to be secured at selected distances from said blades.

3. A gauge as set forth in claim k2 wherein a first pair of spacedapertures is located a predetermined distance from said blades, a secondpair of spaced apertures is offset sideways from said first pair and isa fractional linear unit farther from the blades than is said rst pair,and successive pairs are in an arrangement similar to said iirst andsecond pairs so as to permit adjustment of the gauge stop in fractionallinear ,units Smaller than the width of an aperture.

4. ,Agaiige ifor a tile cutter, comprising: a base member; fasteningelements for securing said base member in predetermined relation to theblades of a tile cutter, said elements being adapted :to permit limitedhorizontal movement of the vbase Lmember in .a direction generallyperpendicular to the cutting plane of the blades; a com- @ressivememberresiliently urging the base member toward the cutting elements; aplurality of spaced pairs of shoulders integral with said base member;and a gauge stop having portions adapted to engage a `selected pair ofsaid shoulders to lxedly retain said stop in a predetermined position`with reference Lto said blades.

A gauge as set forth in .claim l wherein the `fastening elements'include a plurality of set screws positioned to provide for 4adjustmentof Ythe base member with 'respect to the `cutting element.

y6. Agauge for a tile cutter, comprising: a base member; fasteningelements for securing said 'base member in predetermined relation to theblades Lof a tile cutter; a plurality 'of set screws associated withsaid fastening elements, saidset screws being positioned vto provide foradjustment of the base member 4with respect to the blades; a pluralityof evenly spaced pai-rs of shoulders `'integral `with said base member;and a gauge stop having portions adapted to engage a selected pair Yofsaid shoulders to fixedly retain said stop in a `predetermined vpositionwith reference to `said blades.

7. A gauge 'for aftile cutter, comprising: a base member; fasteningelements for securing said 'base member -in predetermined relation tothe 'blades of a tile cutter, said lelements being adapted to per-mitlimited horizontal movement .of the oase member in a directionperpendicular to `the plane of the cutting elements; Ia .compressivemember resiliently urging the base member toward the cutting elements; agauge stop provided with a pair of rigid spaced pins; and a plurality ofpairs of spaced apertures in said 'base member adapted Yto receive andgrip said spaced pins, said pairs of apertures being so arranged as topermit said gauge stop to be secured at predetermined distances fromsaid blades.

8. A gauge as set forth in claim '7 wherein the fastening elementsinclude a' plurality off set screws positioned to provide for adjustmentof the base member with respect to the cutting element.

9. A gauge as set forth in claim 8 wherein a rst pair of spacedapertures is located a predetermined distance from said blades, a secondpair of spaced apertures is offset sideways from said first pair and isa fractional linear unit farther from the blades than is said rst pair,and successive pairs are in an arrangement similar to said rst andsecond pairs so as to permit adjustment of the gauge stop infractionallinear units smaller than ythe width of an aperture. I A

10. A gauge for a tile cutter, comprising: a base member; fasteningelements for securing said base member in predetermined relationship tothe blades of a tile cutter; a plurality of set screws associated withsaid fastening means. said set screws being positioned to provide foradjustment of the base member with respect to the blades; a gauge stopprovided with a pair of rigid spaced pins; and a plurality of pairs ofspaced apertures in said base member adapted to receive and grip saidspaced pins, said pairs of apertures being so arranged as to permit saidgauge stop to be secured at predetermined distances from said blades. g

11. A gauge for a tile cutter,comprising: a base memberj fasteningelementsrrfor securing said base member in predetermined relationship tothe -blades of a tile cuttenjsaid elements being adapted to permitlimited'horiaontal movement of the base member in aldirection generallyperpendicular to the plane ofthefblades; a compressive memberresiliently 'urginglthe base member toward-the blades; a gauge `Stpadapted to b'e secured to said base member;` and coacting ele# ments forpermitting saidi'gaug'e stop to be secured to the base member at anyselected distance from the cutting elements.

12. A gauge as set forth `in claim 11 wherei the fastening meansincludes :a plurality of set screws positioned to provide for adjustmentof the base member with respect Lto the blades.

13. A gauge for a tile "cutter, comprisingra base member; fasteningelements for securing said base member in predetermined relation; to theblades of a tile cutter; aplurality of spaced pairs of shouldersintegral with said base mem-v ber, both shoulders of each of said pairsbeing.

equidistant from the blades; a pair of shoulders disposed at apredetermined acute angle with' respect to the blades; a gauge stophaving portions adapted to engage a selected .pair of said shoulders toxedly retain said stop in a predetermined position with reference tosaid blades; an auxiliary stop adapted to engage a shoulder; and ashoulder positioned to fix said auxiliary stop in parallel abuttingrelation to said gauge stop when the gauge stop is retained by said lastnamed pair of shoulders.

14. A gauge for a tile cutter, comprising: a base member; fasteningelements for detachably securing said base member in predeterminedrelation to the blades of a tile cutter; a movable gauge stop; andcoacting abutment shoulders and xed pins on said base member and saidgauge stop arranged to provide a plurality of predetermined locations atwhich said 'gauge stop may be set and retained against movement awayfrom the cutter blades, said abutment shoulders being disposed inparallel planes spaced from and at an acute angle with respect to thecutter blades and being so arranged that the distance of the gauge stopfrom the cutter blades may be varied by increments smaller than thewidth of said gpendicularly to the cutter blade, the apertures in i.each row being equidistant from one another, any

aperture in one of said rows being located a pre- -d'etermined distancefrom said cutter blade, and

.the corresponding aperture in any adjoining row being located apredetermined distance from the '.cutter blade which varies from thedistance of said rst named aperture by an amount less than ythe diameterof an aperture; a second plurality of K rows of apertures identical withsaid first plurality of rows and disposed a substantial distancelaterally therefrom; and a movable gauge stop pro- 'vided with means forengaging corresponding apertures in said rst and said second pluralitiesI., of rows.

16. A gauge for a tile cutter, comprising: a base member; fasteningelements for securing said base member in predetermined relation to theblades of a tile cutter; a gauge stop provided with apair of rigid,spaced pins; a plurality of pairs of spaced apertures in said basemember adapted to receive said spaced pins, said pairs of aperturesbeing so arranged as to permit said gauge stop to be secured at selecteddistances from said blades; and an auxiliary stop adapted to be securedto the base member with one end overlapping the gauge stop and clampingit to the base member.

ELMER LESSLEY WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 377,500 Sagendorph et al Feb. 7,1888 484,832 Van Wagenen Oct. 25, 1892 2,289,985 Nastri July 14, 1942

